You sit on your private terrace, comfortable in a chaise lounge, glass of rose at hand. Hawks soar overhead above the ancient vines of Grenache. The sun dips behind a stand of cypress trees planted as a “philosopher's walk” . This is the Provence dream many of us have , but while staying at Domaine de Casteuse it is reality. We had a wonderful one week stay in the Les Oliviers unit in mid September. It was well appointed for a couple, and provided an excellent base for our touring. Respecting the history of the building and the area, the unit mixes modern renovations, with beautiful antique furniture. The bedroom with high ceilings and lovely eastward view featured a solid King bed and an impressive oak headboard. The estate is so quiet we had the best sleeps of our trip here. The fully renovated bathroom featured a rainfall shower with fixtures that allowed for accurate control of temperature. The living area contained a fully equipped kitchen. All we did was make coffee, slice bread and cheese, but I would not have hesitated to use the 3 burner stove or combi oven. It was lovely to have a dishwasher for our assortment of wine glasses and coffee cups. We had a chance to peek in the other unit available, and it was equally appointed. The two units are separate and do not share any common walls, making for a very quiet and private experience. We spent many lovely late afternoons on the terrace after exploring many venues within an easy 1.5 hour drive from Villa. The pleasant village of Lourmarin is just a 5 minute walk. The Friday market was amazing, and enjoying coffee in the morning on the main plaza provided for fascinating people watching. Our host Natallie was a gem. Totally fluent in English , She gave us many recommendations of interesting things to do - The village of Coucorn with a huge fountain in the town Square, the jaw dropping Sculpture garden at Chateau La Coste, and encouraged us to go south to the Mediterranean village of Cassis, She also provided us with fascinating stories of the history of Provence, Lourmarin , and of Domaine de Casteuse.. We look forward to returning !!!!!

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Natalie and the apartment are great.

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Daniel B. a dit...

7 oct. 2017

Our stay at the Bastidon Casteuse

Date de séjour 23 sept. 2017

We greatly enjoyed our stay at the Bastidon de Casteuse, a classic Provencal farmhouse/villa set among olive groves just a few hundred yards from the Lourmarin Chateau. The property is large and gated, the house furnished with antiques and original paintings and has the usual modern conveniences (kitchen, shower, TV, WiFi, etc.) as well a swimming pool. The village with its sidewalk cafes, restaurants, shops, and markets was a 5-minute walk away. Nathalie, the English- and French-speaking owner, lives nearby and was very welcoming. During our stay she provided information about the area and its culture, explained the history of the property and of her fascinating ancestors who lived there. It was a memorable and relaxing stay.

We spent about a week at Ville de Castenuse. First, Natalie is a lovely and charming hostess, there to assist with information, recommendations and a broad smile. Second, the property is ideally located, next to Chateau Lourmarin, a 5-10 minute walk to the village centre. We shared adjacent apartments with our traveling companions and the spaces couldn't have worked out better. Our terrasse had morning sun, their's afternoon shade for appetifs and wine. The "Yeah" Festival was ongoing during our time there. The good news? We could sit in Charisse lounges and watch and listen to the music. The bad news? As older folks, the music went on longer than we did. Ville de Castenuse would be ideal for anyone attending an event at the Chateau or in downtown Lourmarin. The apartments are comfortable, airy, and have a clothes washer and swimming pool for use. We had a wi-if issue and Natalie fixed it right away. Natalie recommended we walk Chateau de La Coste about 12 miles away. We'd never heard of it. The art and walk and restaurant were terrific surprises and additions to our vacation. I love Lourmarin. It is quaint, friendly, and filled with good shops and restaurants. Being able to look over the Chateau and village from Ville de Castenuse adds even more to the Luberon experience. Thanks Natalie!

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octobre 2016

Nick

We found Nathalie and her amazing apartment on a stunning olive grove and vineyard overlooking the Lourmarin Chateau for our honeymoon and couldn't have made a better choice. She was warm, welcoming, and the place was fantastic. The building itself is very old, but it has been meticulously redone with all new appliances, kitchen, bath etc. Its has a feel of the old with all the conveniences of the new.

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août 2014

Jim

Staying at the apartment and on the estate was idyllic. The property and experience exceeded our expectations and we plan to return. While the location is a lovely 5 minute walk from Lourmarin, it's like being in the middle of the countryside in Provence. There's beautiful walks under pine and olive trees around the estate with stone benches at intervals for contemplation of nature - and life. We loved the private pool. The apartment was comfortable and a welcome respite from hotel rooms. The appliances were of the highest quality and perfect for our needs. Quiet for sleeping, we awoke to the sweet sound of birds each morning. Breakfast on the terrace was wonderful. Just a short walk into town, the lovely village has restaurants and shops galore --plus a wonderful boulangerie with the flakiest of croissants. Nathalie, the owner, is charming and most welcoming and responsive. She shares not only her home, but the history of the area and her family's heritage. She was most helpful and gracious to provide suggestions for sightseeing, restaurants, concerts and hiking. A truly memorable visit !

"We had a wonderful week in the wonderful Varille house by the Chateau de Lourmarin. The house itself is warm and inviting, the town charming with a variety of restaurants and shops, the owner Ms. Varille knowledgeable and helpful, but never imposing; and of course this strategic site in themddle of the Luberons must be one of the great treasures in the world. For cyclists and hikers (that's us) it's paradise, with an enormous variety of landscapes and quaint villages within a day's biking. Nathalie's wonderful estate, maintained in a manner that honors the profound family tradition which frames its character, is truly in the heart of the South of France, which is (at least to this Yankee) the heart of the earth."